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the traveler (2008)
kinetic sound sculpture
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videos
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Description: "We have Chinese
acrobats. I think that the cat-seller will be around before lunch. We
have an elephant that falls downhill. We have some flying machines,
although they're somewhat primitive. We have Chicken Chow Mein. And we
have a pirate." - Donald Barthelme from his children's book "The
Slightly Irregular Fire Engine"
The Traveler is an
interactive kinetic sound sculpture. Controlled via an Arduino
microcontroller, an ultrasonic range finder reacts to the proximity of
an observer, first enticing them closer by opening the suitcase to
reveal its mysterious inner workings. Then, when they get too close,
the suitcase falls closed, not wanting to tell all. Inside a gearhead
motor rotates a metal disk causing "the traveler" (a small toy
elephant) to keep on his journey. Solenoids hidden beneath the disk
punctuate his path with pitches and timbres that vary with the rotation
of the metal.
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Showings:
- Centerpieces - University of North Texas -
Center for Experimental Music and Intermedia - February 25, 2008
- 2008 SPARK Festival of Electronic Music and Art - Regis Art
Center - Minneapolis, MN - February 20-24, 2008
- University of North Texas - Physical Computing Showcase -
Denton, TX - November 20, 2008 (preview)
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Technical Notes: The sculpture
is designed to be "plug and play". Needed for display are: (1)
pedestal, (1) overhead spotlight, (1) AC wall outlet. The
sculpture works best with a head-on approach, as such it tends to work
best at the end of corridors or in the corner of a room.
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Duration: continuous |